Fountain pen



Nov. 29, 1938. N WHH'EHOUSE 2,138,650

FOUNTAIN PEN Filed Jan- 1958 10 H J v ii 2 Z4" 45] ii w in): ATTORNEYSPatented Nov. 29, 1938 UNETEE QTATES NT @FEICE Application .lanuary 6,

12 @laims.

This invention relates to improvements in fountain pens, and moreparticularly to such improvements in fountain pens as will expeditefeeding of ink to the nib thereof.

Fountain pens are customarily carried, when not in use, in an invertedposition so that the ink supply is at rest at a point relatively remotefrom the nib. If the ink supply runs low and the fountain pen is turned.to writing position some time may be consumed in permitting the ink totravel fromits remote resting place to the nib.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved fountainpen construction wherein supply of ink to the nib is facilitatedespecially after the pen has been in an inverted position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fountain pen of suchcharacter that a chamber is provided adjacent the inner end of the feedchannel, which chamber has as va part thereof a trap-like portion toretain some ink when the pen is inverted.

A further object of the invention is to provide a chamber adjacent theinner end of the feed channel, which chamber is partially defined by atubular member extending thereinto and having a part thereof spaced fromthe wall of the barrel to provide an annular trap for ink.

In carrying out the foregoing and other objects of the invention, afountain pen may be constructed of a barrel, a pen section, feed bar,nib and collapsible reservoir, all of which portions are well-known.However, the collapsible reservoir instead of being secured to the innerend of the pen section is secured to one end of a separate tubularmember. This tubular member has an annular external shoulderintermediate its ends with the external diameter of such shoulderapproximately the same as the internal diameter of the barrel. Thistubular member with collapsible reservoir thereto is introduced into thebarrel and when properly located is securely locked in place by somesuitable cement applied to and between the periphery of the flange ofthe tubular member and the annular wall of the barrel. The end of thetubular member extending beyond the flange and toward the open end ofthe barrel is spaced some suitable distance from the end of the barrelso that when the pen section is secured in the end of the barrel achamber is formed by the tubular member and the pen section. Theexternal diameter of that portion of the tubular member extending fromthe flange thereof toward the pen section is such that an annular spaceor trap is formed between 1938, Serial No. 183,565

(Cl. Mil-42) the outer wall thereof and the inner wall of the barrel.This trap serves to retain a limited quantity of ink when the pen isinverted so that when the pen is moved from-inverted position to writingposition this limited quantity of ink flows immediately into contactwith the feed bar and hence can be dispensed ahnost instantaneously bythe writing operation. I

The principle of this invention can be applied not only to' fountainpens utilizing a collapsible reservoir, such as a rubber sack, but alsocan be applied to fountain pens in which useis not made of such acollapsible reservoir. Moreover, the auxiliary tubular member which isnecessary in the formation of the desired trap may be of a number ofdifferent forms and may be inserted either in the barrel as previouslydescribed, or in the hollowed-out pen section if desired, in which eventa portion of the pen section becomes in effect a part of the barrel ofthe device.

Other features, objects and advantages of the invention will-be apparentby reference to the detailed description of the accompanying drawingillustrating the same, wherein:

' Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view partially in vertical section of afountain pen construction embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Y

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a slightly modi fled form of auxiliarytubular member, which form differs only in ,minor details from thatshown in Fig. l, and

Fig. 4 is a similar view of a still further modification of theinvention.

Referring now to the drawing, I0 indicates generally the barrel of afountain pen which is initially open at one end for the reception of apen section II hollowed out to receive a feed bar and a portion of a nib12 in the usual fashion. Use is made in this particular embodiment ofthe invention of a collapsible reservoir such as a rubber sack indicatedat M. However, this sack l4 instead of being secured directly tothefinner end of the pen section I I is secured to an auxiliary tubularmember indicated generally at l5. This tubular member has a portion Hito the periphery of which the sack I4 is cemented or otherwise secured.The member I5 has an annular external flange ll intermediate its ends,which flange has an external diameter substantially the same as theinternal diameter of the barrel Ill. The member l5 has a second endportion l8 extending beyond the flange H.

The member IS with a sack l4 secured thereto is introduced into the openend of the barrel and located at a desired distance from the end of thebarrel. This member can be locked in place by some suitable cement andif the barrel is of a material which can be treated with a solvent, thetubular member may be made of a similar material, so that application tothese parts of a solvent of these parts results in a firm union thereof.After the member I5 and the sack I4 have been properly located in thebarrel, the end thereof can be closed by cementing the pen section I Itherein. Again this pen section may be made of the same material as thebarrel and if desired, these two parts maybe subject to a solvent which,when applied thereto, will cause the two parts to become firmly intomore or less of a homogeneous structure.

The operation and use of this device is substantially as follows: Thefountain pen can be filled with ink in the usual fashion, that is bycollapsing the reservoir I 4 and permitting it to expand while the nibis immersed in an ink supply to thereby suck a quantity of the ink intothe bag. The pen will operate in the usual fashion during use thereof,but when the same is inverted to be carried in the users pocket the inksupply will flow through the opening of the tubular member I5 'into thesack I4. However, all of the ink supply which is normally positionedimmediately behind the pen section cannot flow into the sack since someof the ink will be trapped in the annular trap I9 located between-theinner wall of the barrel i and the outer wall of the end portion I8.When the pen is moved from inverted to writing position this relativelysmall quantity of ink held in trap I9 fiows immediately down the barrelinto contact with the pen section and consequently with the feedchannel. This arrangement has the advantage that if the ink supply isrelatively low, that is, if a relatively small amount is held in theclosed end part of the sack, writing can be accomplished almostimmediately without waiting until this quantity of ink can flow down thewall of the sack through the opening of the member I and thence to thefeed channel. The trapped quantity of ink is always available forimmediate use so that the undesired delays heretofore common in the useof fountain pens is eliminated.

If desired, the barrel I0 may be so formed that the portion thereofforming the wall for the chamber indicated generally at 20 may betransparent so that a user can visually determine the quantity of ink inthe pen when in the writing position and may also see the small quantitytrapped in the trap I9. Furthermore, if desired. any suitable member maybe introduced into the chamber 20 in such fashion that a portion thereofwill extend into the bore of the member I5 to break up the meniscuswhich mi ht be formed by the capillarity of the wall of the bore memberI5. so that flow of ink through this bore through the sack can beexpedited.

In Fig. 3 a slightly different form of auxiliary tubular member has beenillustrated. This form which is designated generally at 40 differs fromthe member I5 in that one end portion M thereof has its outer wallflared outwardly as shown to facilitate the attachment of the throat ofa rubber sack thereto. In other details this member corresponds to thatshown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 4 a still further modified form of auxiliary member has beenshown. This member comprises a tube 50 having an external flange 5i atone end thereof. If desired a sack can be attached to the flanged end ofthis member in some suitable fashion or the member can be used in afountain pen construction wherein a sack is not provided.

All forms of auxiliary members which are necessary in the provision of atrap can be located either directly in the barrel portion of the pen asshown in Fig. 1, or any thereof can be located in a hollowed-out pensection in such fashion that the chamber with its trap formed therebywill be directly in the pen section and, adjacent the end of the feedchannel. In such an arrangement the pen section obviously willconstitute an actual part of the barrel, and it is to be understood thatthe term barrel used in the claims is to be construed in such fashion.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention providesan improved fountain pen so constructed that the delays incidental toflow of ink from a reservoir to a feed channel when the pen is movedfrom inverted to writing position are substantially eliminated, or inother words a pen in which flow of ink is expedited. It is to beunderstood that modifications of the illustrated embodiments can be madewithout departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, anylimitations imposed thereupon are to be only those set forth in thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A fountain pen comprising a barrel, a collapsible reservoir therein,a pen section in one end of said barrel, said barrel being provided witha chamber intermediate said collapsible reservoir and said pen section,said chamber having formed as a part thereof a trap for retaining arelatively small quantity of ink when said pen is moved from writing toinverted position.

2. A fountain pen comprising a barrel, a collapsible reservoir therein,a pen section in one end of said barrel, said barrel being provided witha chamber intermediate said collapsible reservoir and said pen section,said chamber having formed as a part thereof a trap for retaining arelatively small quantity of ink when said pen is moved from writing toinverted position, that portion of the barrel surrounding said chamberbeing substantially transparent.

3. A fountain pen comprising a barrel, a pen section in one end thereof,an auxiliary tubular member secured in said barrel in spacedrelation tosaid pen section, a collapsible reservoir secured to one end of saidauxiliary member, the other end of said auxiliary member cooperatingwith said barrel to form an annular trap between the inner wall of saidbarrel and the outer wall of an end portion of said tubular member.

4. A fountain pen comprising a barrel, a pen section in one end thereof,an auxiliary tubular member secured in said barrel in spaced relation tosaid pen section, a collapsible reservoir secured to one end of saidauxiliary member, the other end of said auxiliary member cooperatingwith said barrel to form an annular trap between the inner wall of saidbarrel and the outer wall of an end portion of said tubular member, theportion of said barrel between said pen section and part of said tubularmember being substantially transparent.

5. A fountain pen comprising a barrel, a pen section in one end thereof,an auxiliary tubular member having a peripheral flange, said flangebeing secured to the inner wall of said barrel, a collapsible reservoirsecured to one end of said tubular member, the other end of said tubularmember being in spaced relation to said pen section and having the outerwall thereof spaced from the inner wall of said barrel to form anannular trap to retain a relatively small quantity of ink when the penis moved from writing to inverted position.

6. A fountain pen comprising a barrel, a pen section in one end thereof,an auxiliary tubular member having a peripheral flange, said flangebeing secured to the inner wall of said barrel with said tubular memberspaced from said pen section to define a chamber, a collapsiblereservoir secured to one end of said tubular member, the other end ofsaid tubular member having the outer wall thereof spaced from the innerwall of said barrel to form an annular trap to retain a relatively smallquantity of ink when the pen is moved from writing to inverted position.

7. A fountain pen comprising a barrel, a pen section in one end thereof,an auxiliary tubular member having a peripheral flange, said flangebeing secured to the inner wall of said barrel, a collapsible reservoirsecured to one end of said tubular member, the other end of said tubularmember being in spaced relation to said pen section and having the outerwall thereof spaced from the inner wall of said barrel to form anannular trap to retain a relatively small quantity of ink when the penis moved from writing to inverted position, said barrel having a chamberintermediate the pen section and the tubular member with the barrel wallof said chamber being substantially transparent.

8. A fountain pen comprising a barrel, a pen section in one end thereof,said pen section being provided with a feed channel, said barrel beingprovided with a chamber adjacent the inner end of said channel, saidchamber having as a part thereof a trap for retaining a relatively smallquantity of ink when said pen is moved from writing to invertedposition. v

9. A fountain pen comprising a barrel, a pen section in one end thereof,said pen section having a feed channel therein, said barrel beingprovided with a chamber adjacent the inner end of said feed channel,said chamber having as a part thereof an annular trap for retaining arelatively small quantity of ink when said pen is moved from writing toinverted position.

10. An auxiliary member for insertion in the barrel of a fountain pen,said member comprising a tube having a neck portion and having aperipheral flange adapted to be secured to the inner wall of saidbarrel, said neck portion cooperating with the inner wall of said barrelto provide an annular trap.

11. An auxiliary member for insertion in the barrel of a fountain pen,said member comprising a tube having a peripheral flange intermediatethe ends thereof adapted to be secured to the inner wall of said barrel,one end of said tube cooperating with the inner wall of said barrel toprovide an annular trap.

12. An auxiliary member for insertion in the barrel of a fountain pen,said member comprising a tube having a peripheral flange intermediatethe ends thereof adapted to be secured to the inner wall of said barrel,one end of said tube cooperating with the inner wall of said barrel toprovide an annular trap, the other end of said tube being insertableinto a collapsible reservoir.

JOHN N. WHITEHOUSE.

